People don’t have to be stupid to be stubborn, however it’s fairly common to see the two walking hand in hand. Certainly there are some scenarios when being stubborn is an important factor – giving up too soon or not standing firm leads to failure.
Sometimes there is just stubborn and stupid.
Like Donald Trump.
I suppose the pouting departing president’s narcissist, childlike behaviour would be comical if it was not so damaging, divisive, dangerous or…dumb.
Most men or women of such important stature have reached a level of comprehension regarding the decorum of competition. You fight the best fight you can and when the day is done the results are what they are. Mature, respecting folks who value protocol and process take their win or loss in a similar gait. You stand up, say thank you to all involved on your ‘team’, thank others for being part of the process (whatever the competition is) shakes hands with the opponent, and graciously leave the stage.
The winner gets to come back and play on. The loser rebounds to something else and plays on. (I know what it feels like to win and to lose at politics. Winning is euphoric – losing sucks, hurts, cuts like a knife. At the end of the day the people decide – and the only one responsible for the results is yourself.)
Most of us have won and lost at various things: sports, jobs, relationships. The game of politics is really not a lot different than a sporting event. Boxing is a good analogy perhaps – you work hard to rise up the ladder before stepping into the title ring. Just getting to that main fight has meant years of preparation, training and contests. Most likely you lost a few on the climb up the ladder. When the big title match arrives you hope your team of trainers and supporters will remain in your corner and that you are ready. Round by round you battle through. You take a shot or two and give a few as well. If you lose a round or get knocked down it’s only you that can get back up and return to the fight. Eventually the bell rings, the fight is over, and the rounds won and lost are tallied. The judges make a decision – unless a clear knockout occurred.
Some might suggest Biden delivered a knock-out blow to Trump. I don’t believe that however Biden won enough rounds to clearly defeat Trump.
The judges made a fair decision based on the results. When Donald’s team called foul the judges did a recount. More than once.
There were no fake rounds or footage, no embellished or unfair refereeing involved, no one spiked Trump’s water bottle, or chloroformed his towel. He lost. Simple.
Yet deranged Donald will not except the truth of the results.
For the past four years his Republican corner men have shamefully cloaked his dysfunctional dippsy-doodling leadership with silent, sordid support. Many were afraid of denouncing his twisted decisions, ridiculous rants, racist and sexual slurs, and bullying – concerned they would also wind up on his scrap heap of lost loyalists.
Only now, with Trump having factually lost the election and recount after recount verifying the reality are some Republicans distancing themselves from the Donald. A little too late for many Americans who have unnecessarily suffered or died due to Trump’s stubborn and stupid decisions (or lack of) regarding Coronavirus.
Perhaps underscored by his ineptness of Covid19 has been the damage caused by flames of hatred and intolerance towards other races, nations and religions he intentionally fanned furiously. It’s baffling that Republican supporters could so gutlessly sit back and watch the emotional and physical damage their ‘leader’ was allowed to spew – knowing that absolutely no good could result from such evil, venomous tweets and speeches. Shameful lack of leadership on all parts.
So now President elect Biden (the lesser of two evils I suppose) is expected to step into the Oval office and begin the difficult task of moving the country forward, uniting (if possible) the various states of the ‘United’ States. He does so without any of the traditional, important protocols normally conducted in the handing over of power by departing presidents to incoming ones. Obama sucked up his powershift to Trump and did so, as has every other previous president.
Trump refuses to help Biden, and therefore ALL Americans with the preparation and exchange of information on Covid, military and defence, economy, pending policies, and other vital information needed for a smooth transition of power.
His pathetic refusal to put on his big boy pants and do the right thing places the U.S. (and many other nations around the world) at great peril from various security concerns including rioting, terrorist attacks and military threat. It impacts trade, environment, health, employment, and world-wide relationships … and a plan to actually slow down the pandemic wiping out massive populations there.
Hopefully the very sad, silly, deadly stupidity of Trump is over quickly and some resemblance of normal, rational leadership returns to the White House.
Even in his final days of power Trump has confirmed that he has no class, no sense of compassion or accountability, and a blind false pride that has directly led to his downfall.
His statue is torn down before it was ever erected.
Goodbye cannot come fast enough.
